As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Ferrous metals" means any metals containing significant quantities of iron or steel.

(2) "Law enforcement officer" means any duly constituted peace officer of the State of Georgia or of any county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof.

(3) "Nonferrous metals" means metals not containing significant quantities of iron or steel, including, without limitation, copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, nickel, and alloys thereof.

(4) "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust, association, and any other legal entity.

(5) "Personal identification card" means a driver's license or identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety or a similar card issued by another state, a military identification card, a passport, or an appropriate work authorization issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

(6) "Purchase transaction" means a transaction in which a secondary metals recycler gives consideration in exchange for regulated metal property.

(7) "Regulated metal property" means any item composed primarily of any nonferrous metals, but shall not include aluminum beverage containers, used beverage containers, or similar beverage containers.

(8) "Secondary metals recycler" means any person who is engaged, from a fixed location or otherwise, in the business of paying compensation for ferrous or nonferrous metals that have served their original economic purpose, whether or not engaged in the business of performing the manufacturing process by which ferrous metals or nonferrous metals are converted into raw material products consisting of prepared grades and having an existing or potential economic value.